Artificial flower

ABSTRACT

An artificial flower includes an artificial stem, a receptacle held by the artificial stem, numerous artificial petals rotatably positioned on the receptacle, a cable and a driving unit. The cable is moveably extended through the artificial stem and includes a first end and an opposite second end. The first end of the cable is coupled to the artificial petals. The driving unit is coupled to the second end of the cable and capable of driving the cable to rotate the artificial petals between an open position where the artificial petals are opened and a close position where the artificial petals are closed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to ornaments, and particularly, to anartificial flower.

2. Description of Related Art

Artificial flowers are popularly used as substitutes for real flowersbecause they do not need watering and never wilt. However, theartificial flowers remain in one state, which may be dull and boring.

Therefore, what is needed is an artificial flower, in which the aboveproblem is eliminated or at least alleviated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially perspective view of an artificial flower includinga driving unit, a receptacle and numerous artificial petals, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged, schematic view of the driving unit ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the receptacle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially isometric view of the artificial flower of FIG. 1,showing the numerous artificial petals coupled to the receptacle.

FIG. 5 is a partially isometric view of an artificial flower accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is another partially isometric view of the artificial flower ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an artificial flower 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment includes a flowerpot 11, a driving unit 12, an artificialstem 13, a receptacle 14, and numerous artificial petals 15. The drivingunit 12 is received in the flowerpot 11. The artificial stem 13protrudes from the flowerpot 11. The receptacle 14 is fixed on the topof the artificial stem 13 and held by the artificial stem 13. Theartificial petals 15 are rotatably connected to and positioned on thereceptacle 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flowerpot 11 includes a fixed board 111. Thefixed board 111 defines a central through hole 1111. The artificial stem13 is extended through the central through hole 1111 and fixed to thefixed board 111.

The driving unit 12 is below the fixed board 111 and includes a gear box121, a motor 122, a gear assembly 123, a toothed bar 124, and an elasticmember 125. The gear assembly 123 is received in the gear box 121. Thegear box 121 defines a guide rail 1211, aligned with the artificial stem13. The motor 122 is partially received in the gear box 121. The motor122 includes a rotating worm shaft 1221 meshed with the gear assembly123. Therefore, the motor 122 may drive the gear assembly 123 byrotating the worm shaft 1221.

The toothed bar 124 includes a toothed portion 1241. The toothed bar 124is moveably received in the guide rail 1211 with the toothed portion1241 meshed with the gear assembly 123. The toothed bar 124 can movealong the guide rail 1211 towards the fixed board 111 (upwards) when themotor 122 drives the gear assembly 123.

A fixing pole 110 extends from an inner surface 112 of the flowerpot 11.An end of the elastic member 125 is fixed to the fixing pole 110.Another end of the elastic member 125 is coupled to the toothed bar 124.When the elastic member 125 is fixed in the driving unit 12, the lengthof the elastic member 125 is greater than the natural length of theelastic member 125. In this embodiment, the elastic member 125 is atension coil spring.

Referring to FIG. 3 together with FIG. 2, the artificial stem 13 is ahollow cylinder. A cable 16 such as a steel cable is moveably extendedthrough the artificial stem 13. The cable 16 includes a first end 161and a second end 162 opposite to the first end 161. Four sections 163extend from the first end 161. The second end 162 is fixed to thetoothed bar 124. Each section 163 may be made from steel and isconnected to the first end 161 by welding.

The receptacle 14 includes a disc-shaped body 140, four fixed arms 141,four holding arms 142, and four torsion springs 143. The fixed arms 141extend from the body 140, each extending radially away from theartificial stem 13 substantially symmetrical to each other. Each holdingarm 142 is rotatably connected to each fixed arm 141. Each torsionspring 143 is received in the fixed arms 141 and is configured fordriving the holding arm 142 to rotate about the fixed arm 141 towardsthe disc-shaped body 140. Each section 163 is wrapped/looped round eachholding arm 142 in a manner that when the cable 16 is pulled by thetoothed bar 124, the holding arms 142 rotate about the fixed arms 141substantially enclosing the longitudinal axial of the artificial stem13, overcoming a torque applied by the torsion springs 143 on theholding arms 142. Therefore, the holding arms 142 are closed.

Referring to FIG. 4 together with FIGS. 2 and 3, each artificial petal15 is positioned on the holding arm 142 and defines two through holes150. Each section 163 is extended through the two through holes 150 andwound round the holding arm 142. Therefore, the artificial petals 15move together with the holding arms 142.

To animate the artificial flower 10, the motor 122 is turned on to drivethe toothed bar 124 using the gear assembly 123 to move upwards (towardsthe fixed board 111) along the guide rail 1211. Meanwhile, the elasticmember 125 extends further. The cable 16 is moved upwards and theartificial petals 15 together with the holding arms 142 open up due tothe torque of the torsion springs 143 on the holding arms 142.Therefore, the flower 10 appears to bloom. When the motor 122 is turnedoff, the cable 16 is pulled back by restoration of the elastic member125. Therefore, the artificial petals 15 become closed.

It is to be understood that number of the fixed arm 141, the holding arm142, the torsion spring 143 and the artificial petal 15 may be three,five or more. It depends on what the flower manufacturer designs. Theelastic member 125 may be an elastic rod.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together with FIG. 2, an artificial flower 10a according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. The differencesbetween the artificial flower 10 a and the artificial flower 10 are thatthe four torsion springs 143 are omitted and a lubricant layer (notshown) is coated between each fixed arm 141 a and each holding arm 142a. When the motor 122 (referring to FIG. 2) is turned on and the cable16 a is moved upwards, the artificial petals 15 a and the holding arms142 a open under the influence of gravity. The artificial petals 15 acloses similar to that of the artificial petals 15 of the artificialflower 10. The artificial flower can achieve blooming and closing up.Therefore, the artificial flower may cheer up people.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principlesof the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. An artificial flower comprising: an artificial stem; a receptacleheld by the artificial stem; a plurality of artificial petals rotatablypositioned on the receptacle; a cable moveably extended through theartificial stem and comprising a first end and an opposite second end,the first end of the cable coupled to the plurality of artificialpetals; and a driving unit coupled to the second end of the cable andcapable of driving the cable to rotate the plurality of artificialpetals between a first position where the plurality of artificial petalsare opened and a second position where the plurality of artificialpetals are closed.
 2. The artificial flower as claimed in claim 1,wherein the artificial stem is a hollow cylinder.
 3. The artificialflower as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises adisc-shaped body, a plurality of fixed arms, a plurality of holding armsand a plurality of torsion springs; the fixed arms extend from the body,each extending with a direction inclined to an axial direction of theartificial stem; each holding arm is rotatably connected to each fixedarm; and each torsion spring is received in the fixed arms and isconfigured for driving the holding arm to rotate around the fixed armtowards the disc-shaped body.
 4. The artificial flower as claimed inclaim 3, wherein a plurality of sections extend from the first end ofthe cable; each artificial petal is positioned on each holding arm anddefines two through holes; and each section is extended through the twothrough holes and wound round the holding arm.
 5. The artificial floweras claimed in claim 4, further comprising a flowerpot, the driving unitreceived in the flowerpot, the artificial stem protruding from theflowerpot.
 6. The artificial flower as claimed in claim 5, wherein thedriving unit comprises a gear box, a motor, a gear assembly, a toothedbar and an elastic member; the gear assembly is received in the gearbox; the gear box defines a guide rail, aligned with the artificialstem; the motor is partially received in the gear box and comprises arotating worm shaft meshed with the gear assembly; the toothed barcomprises a toothed portion and is moveably received in the guide railwith the toothed portion meshed with the gear assembly; an end of theelastic member is fixed to an inner surface of the flowerpot and anotherend of the elastic member is coupled to the toothed bar; and the secondend of the cable is fixed to the toothed bar.
 7. The artificial floweras claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a disc-shapedbody, a plurality of fixed arms, a plurality of holding arms and alubricant layer; the fixed arms extend from the body, each extendingwith a direction inclined to an axial direction of the artificial stem;each holding arm is rotatably connected to each fixed arm; and thelubricant layer is coated between each holding arm and each fixed arm.8. The artificial flower as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable ismade from steel.